Why Not to Lie Stern-To with a Para-Anchor - Storm Tactics

Now a question we've been asked is, why not lie stern to in the same type of position? You'r hove-to but using your gear off the stern? The problem with that is you're exposing your cockpit to the spray and the occasional wave that may come onboard. And the cockpit is like a funnel. It can funnel water into lockers, into the companionway. We know people who thought they were sinking because so much water found its way below when their stern was to the wind. The bow of your boat is the the most water proof, strongest area to present to any potential spray and waves. The biggest problem with lying with para-anchor off the stern is, that when it comes time to retrieve it, you have appendages to worry about. You have a propeller to worry about aft. It's much easier if your gear is off the bow because you can then motor slowly toward it, pulLin Pardeyg it in all the time, without it being close to that propeller. As we said in the beginning of this program, heaving-to is not a new idea. Neither is lying to a para-anchor. Fifty years ago, the tuna fishery boats of the coast of California and Mexico found they could keep to sea during storms by laying to a para-anchor. What they found that was interesting was, the windage of their cabins and their super structure forward tended to keep them about 40 to 50 degrees to the wind, in the hove-to position and worked just like a sail, kept them from rolLin Pardeyg too badly. So the para-anchor in combination with their super structure, held them just like we're talking.

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